Hi,
I’m new here, so if this post is better off in a different area, please let me know. My daughter was recently diagnosed with nonverbal learning disability and OCD, which she’s being treated for currently. School, as you can imagine, has been a nightmare :( . She’s currently entering 2nd grade and has yet to complete a successful year of school, even though she’s been in the school system for 4 years (2 yrs pre-K,K and 1st). Anybody else in the same boat? Both my husband and I work outside the home full time for financial reasons, what do you do if your child can’t attend school?
Her anxiety causes her a great deal of stress over standardized tests, I would like to have her simply not take them. Is this ever an option in New York state? I can’t seem to find any information on whether or not we’re allowed to have her exempted from the state tests, and the school says no, we’re not allowed.
Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed, I’m new to all the issues and the lingo, so I’m feeling overwhelmed at times!
Thanks,
Shelly
Re: newly diagnosed LD
I remember reading that if you write a letter 30 days before the test they do not have to take the it. It maybe different per state. I do not know.
In my last ARD meeting we talked about the testing. I asked them if he had to take the test and I they stared at each other and then said no but it would help them understand his strenghts if he did. I told them he could try but if he gets upset or it is too hard and frustrated could he stop or get longer time. They had said yes but it would effect his score.
I too need to do more research here.
THis is a web site I have I hope it helps
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/highstak.index.htm
Re: newly diagnosed LD
Welcome to the board!
You are correct in that it seems to be a state by state thing. Where I live the IEP/ARD team can opt out of the state tests or can move the pass/fail line. ie if most kids need 70% to pass, the team can set the pass line for this child at 30% or whatever.
My child takes his first “high stakes” test in two years. I asked that he be exempt from them. One of the members of the team, who I trust, said that in general its better to have them try for various reasons. We are going to be discussing this topic in detail in future meetings.
Have you read though the New York Department of Education website? Sometimes things like this are listed on sites. Or, you could call them and ask.
Another option is to contact your Parent Training and Education Center, a federally funded centers set up to help parents understand special ed. As I said on another thread, some Centers are better than others but they all seem to be okay with straight forward questions like this. Your centers are:
New York
The Advocacy Center
590 South Avenue
Averill Court
Rochester, NY 14620
585-546-1700
585-546-7069 FAX
1-800-650-4967 (NY only)
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.advocacycenter.com
Statewide except for NY city.
New York
Advocates for Children of NY
151 West 30th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001
212-947-9779
212-947-9790 FAX
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.advocatesforchildren.org
Five boroughs of New York City
New York
Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc.
116 East 16th St., 5th Floor
New York, NY 10003
212-677-4650
212-254-4070 FAX
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.resourcesnyc.org
New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island)
New York
Sinergia / Metropolitan Parent Center
15 West 65th Street, 6th floor
New York, NY 10023
212-496-1300
212-496-5608
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.sinergiany.org
New York City & Long Island
Good luck!
Barb
I have a friend whose son has been diagnosed with OCD. With medication and cognitive therapy, he is like any other kid.
I don’t know if there is a way out of state testing in public schools. You can keep her home but they do some rescheduling of testing.
My kids are in a parochial school now where there is no mandated state testing. They take standardized testing every year but it is not high stakes. My ld son found that very stressful too, even though he doesn’t generally have anxiety issues. So putting her in a private school is one way out of it.
Anxiety also often is a sign that a child is struggling in a setting that is not meeting her needs.
Beth